Election fraud councillor out

7:06pm Thursday 22nd February 2007

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A SHAMED councillor convicted of election fraud has failed to persuade colleagues not to boot him off Burnley Council.

Last night councillors voted to sack Manzur Hussain because he had not attended a meeting for six months - the limit set by the Government.

As reported in Friday's Lancashire Telegraph the Independent councillor asked fellow councillors not to dismiss him, claiming his 18-month prison sentence had prevented him attending meetings since August 23.

However, Hussain was jailed on November 23, after he was found guilty of defrauding the returning officer in the 2004 elections.

He had been on unconditional bail and a Lancashire Telegraph investigation found he could have attended three meetings in that time, including a full council meeting on October 18.

Hussain had been allowed to stay in office following his sentencing pending the result of his appeal against his conviction.

Despite being in prison he was also allowed to claim his £2,100 annual allowance for being a councillor.

Councillor Mark Townsend said at last night's meeting of the council: "It is about time he was thrown off the council.

"He has basically been taking money off this council.

"As far as I am concerned we should take steps to get it back."

Coun Peter Doyle added: "The reason for his absence is totally unacceptable."

Hussain, 58, of Milner Street, Burnley, used to represent Daneshouse with Stoneyholme.

He became an Independent councillor after he was sacked from the Liberal Democrats following his conviction.

Hussain was due to be up for re-election in May's local elections, a month after he is due to be released from HMP Kirkham on a tag.

Council leader Gordon Birtwistle said there would not be a by-election and the seat would be contested in May.

He said: "It is a sad situation. The council had no alternative."

Fellow Lib Dem councillor for Danes-house with Stoney-holme Mozaquir Ali, of Brougham Street, was also sentenced to 18 months in prison after he was found guilty of the same offence.

He was sacked as he failed to appeal the sentence.

Labour's Shah Hussain won his seat by 38 votes from the Lib Dems candidate Mohammed Malik at last week's by-elections.